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The Hyderabad Police have filed a charge sheet in a local court against three persons who allegedly attempted to join the Islamic State terror group in 2015.The charge sheet was filed in a local court but “it has not yet been numbered” (for further proceedings before the court),” Deputy Commissioner of Police Avinash Mohanty said today.The three men, in their 20s, were arrested at the Nagpur airport after a long surveillance of their activities in 2015 when they allegedly tried to head for the Middle-East to join the ISIS via Srinagar.They face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code, among other laws.The trio are currently on bail, police sources said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has lodged a case against five alleged ISIS sympathisers, hailing from Kerala’s Kannur district, the agency said today.The central probe agency said it took over the case from the Kerala police, which had booked the five men in October.The NIA case against the five was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for “being members of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/Daesh, and for supporting the organisation by travelling out of India to join the terrorist organisation in Syria and fight on its behalf.” The five accused are — Midhilaj (26), Abdul Rasak (34), Rashid M V (24), Manaf Rahman (42) and Hamsa U K (57).

Continuing his campaign blitzkrieg in his home state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a poll rally in Gujarat’s Palanpur, which will go to poll on December 14.Though bad throat forced him to cut short his speech, yet the Prime Minister left no stone unturned to slam his political detractors.After the blistering attack on now-suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar in Banaskantha, PM Modi took dig at the senior politician for his ‘secret meeting’ in Pakistan.Aiyar has been on BJP’s target ever since he sparked a political uproar with his ‘neech’ remark against the Prime Minister.Addressing a poll rally, the prime minister also raised questions over the alleged appeal by former director general of the Pakistan Army, Sardar Arshad Rafiq, that senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel be made chief minister of Gujarat.Also readGujarat Elections 2017 | PM Modi resorting to bhashan ka shasan, says Rahul GandhiModi said (former Congress minister) Mani Shankar Aiyar had called him “neech” (vile) a day after the alleged meeting of Pakistani leaders with top Congressmen.”There were media reports yesterday about a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house. It was attended by Pakistan’s high commissioner, Pakistan’s former foreign minister, India’s former vice president and former prime minister Manmohan Singh,” Modi said.Also readGujarat Elections 2017: PM Modi thanks people for turning out in record numbersThe meeting at Aiyar’s house carried on for almost three hours, Modi said.”The next day, Mani Shankar Aiyar said Modi was ‘neech’. This is a serious matter,” he said.Also readGujarat Elections 2017: PM Modi changing agenda after getting exposed on development, says Rahul GandhiModi added that Rafiq had backed Ahmed Patel as the next chief minister of Gujarat.”(On one side) Pakistan Army’s former DG is interfering in Gujarat’s election, on the other side, Pakistan’s people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house,” he said.”And, after that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don’t you think such events raise doubts,” Modi asked.He also attacked Ahmed Patel, a senior Congress leader and big name in Gujarat politics.Known to be a confidant of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Patel was slammed for his apparent Pak links.In a covert remark without saying much, Pm Modi asked, “Why are people who previously held high posts in military-intelligence establishment of Pak writing that we should help make Ahmed Patel the CM.”It should be noted that Patel was in news recently for his alleged ‘links’ with an ISIS man.The Rajya Sabha member was targeted after the Gujarat ATS arrested two suspected ISIS men, of which one was a lab technician at a hospital where Patel was a trustee.With inputs from PTI

The National Investigation Agency today questioned Shafin Jahan, days after the Supreme Court gave its nod to it to continue its probe into his marriage with Hadiya, a Kerala woman at the centre of an alleged love-jihad case.Jahan was questioned a week after the Apex Court gave its nod to carry on investigation into the conversion of Hadiya and her marriage with him.NIA sources said the probe team “re-examined” Jahan today for clarifying certain facts from his earlier statement.They, however, did not elaborate as the matter is sub-judice.The NIA had earlier investigated Jahan and submitted its statement before the Supreme Court.Also readKerala ‘Love Jihad’ case: Before marriage, Hadiya’s husband was in touch with ISIS men, says NIAThe marriage of the couple was annulled by the Kerala High Court last December after her father alleged that his daughter was being indoctrinated and may be taken ISIS territories in Iraq and Syria by extremist Islamic outfits.”We make it clear that the NIA investigation shall continue in accordance with law,” the Supreme Court had said last week while allowing the 24-year-old woman to resume her studies at the homoeopathic college in Tamil Nadu’s Salem.Also readKerala love jihad case: Hadiya was very happy after talking to her husband over phone, says college deanShe was placed under her parents’ custody since her marriage was annulled by the Kerala High Court.
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Yogi Adityanath

Those working insider the cargo division of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) were evacuated and area cordoned on Wednesday evening, after a message was found scribbled inside the toilet room about terror outfit Islamic State (ISIS) blowing up the area on Republic Day, 2018.The security agencies which have taken charge of the premises are probing the matter and a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) has been summoned to scan for explosives among the tons of cargo lying there. The security agencies are on an alert athough they are also looking into the message as the handiwork of pranksters.Deepak Deoraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and spokesperson for Mumbai police department, said, “We have contacted the CISF for further procedure.”The situation is reminiscent of a similar threat message found scribbled in an airport toilet wall in January 2015 on two occasions, warning of an Islamic State (ISIS) attack on Republic Day.
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Yogi Adityanath

A note was found inside a toilet at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport warning an ISIS attack on the cargo area on Republic Day next year.Soon after the discovery, as a precautionary measure, the security personnel evacuated those working inside the cargo division of the airport.The message that was scribbled inside the toilet room said that the dreaded terror group ISIS would blow up the area on Republic Day next year.The security agencies which have taken charge of the premises and are probing the matter. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) has also been summoned to scan for any explosive amongst the tons of cargo parcels lying there.The security agencies are not ruling out any possibility on the scribbled messages though they are also looking into the messages possibly being the handiwork of pranksters.The situation is reminiscent of a similar threat message found scribbled on airport toilet wall in January 2015 on two occasions, warning of an ISIS attack on Republic Day.The sources in the security agencies claim that since the arrival terminals are used by a host of people including fliers, airport staff and airline crew, it was difficult to spot the culprit.The Mumbai airport has a high level of security following multiple terror alerts. Interestingly, the multiple intelligence input reported that the attack could take place by a smaller air strip.Juhu airport which is at stone’s throw away from CSIA has smaller strip and therefore could possibly be used to launch an attack on CSIA.
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Yogi Adityanath

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>BJP national president Amit Shah pulled no punches as he confidently predicted a resounding victory for the saffron party in the Prime Minister’s home state — Gujarat.In a free-wheeling interview to Zee Hindustan, Shah said, “If you look at poll campaigns of both parties in Gujarat, you will see that the Congress has been fighting on the plank of casteism while we have been fighting on the plank of development. And we have seen that time and again the people of Gujarat have rejected casteism in favour of development.”Shah who confidently predicted a resounding victory for the BJP with 163 out of the 182 seats going to the party, stated that the party was ready to answer any issue that the Congress would raise against it. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi’s charges that GST and demonetization had been heavy for the common man, Shah contended that it had cleansed the system. He also replied to the Grand Old Party’s accusations of “corruption” and “favouritism” on the Rafale deal stating, “It is a government to government deal. Let the Winter Session of Parliament come, we are ready to answer to all charges levelled against us.” Asked as to why was the government delaying the announcement of dates for the Winter Session of Parliament, Shah said, “Do remember in the time of the UPA, the sessions of Parliament were delayed as well. It is easy to point fingers at us. We will announce it soon.”Asked about the ongoing ‘Padmavati’ controversy, Shah said. “Please note that it is not just in Gujarat there is a ban on ‘Padmavati’ in many states. History is a sensitive subject and should not be tampered with.”Asked about the issue of love jihad and the recent ongoing case in Kerala. “There has been a recent instance of ISIS operative becoming active in Kerala and using methods such as love jihad. While we endorse the right for anyone to marry, we cannot dismiss such concerns and the government needs to take it seriously.”

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Centre has taken note of reports about global terror group ISIS claiming an attack in the Kashmir Valley that left a police officer dead, Union minister Jitendra Singh said adding that the future course of action would be adopted after taking an appropriate view.The minister of state in the prime minister’s office also said that the recent “back to back” successes achieved against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir was the result of the free hand given to security forces to wipe out the nearly three decade old militancy which is in its “last phase”.Singh was asked about the ISIS claiming its first terror attack in Kashmir through its propaganda wing, Amaq news agency.”The government has taken cognisance of inputs and the concerned agencies, the ministry of home affairs and the security agencies, are taking an appropriate view and will adopt future course of action accordingly,” he told reporters here.Three militants in a car opened fire on a police team at Zakura crossing on the Srinagar-Ganderbal road, killing Sub- Inspector Imran Tak and injuring a special police officer (SPO) on Friday.The retaliatory action left a most wanted local militant dead, whose body was wrapped in ISIS flag during funeral procession.Responding to a question about the killing of six Pakistani militants, including the nephew of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi,?in an encounter in Bandipora district yesterday, Singh said this was the result of the “decisive initiative” taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union government.”The free hand given to security forces to perform with professional freedom is behind such back to back successes. This is possibly the last phase of militancy in Kashmir,” he said.The minister said that he had been saying for the last several months that this was the last phase of terrorism in the state but there were people who were not taking the statement seriously.”The life span of any commander has been reduced to a few weeks – 10 to 15 weeks. Once a commander is appointed, the second is being kept ready to take over. The time has gone when they used to live for years,” he said.He said it was for the first time in the last quarter of a century that there is a government in place in New Delhi which is working on the principle of clarity, conviction and consistency and does not interfere with the professional work being done by security forces.Lauding the local police, he said the manner in which the special operations group performed is testimony to the fact that if given right opportunity without intimidation, the force is capable of doing wonders.On the surrender of college student and footballer Majid Arshid, who had joined the LeT a week ago, Singh said the change was already there but it was just a veil of fear which was holding them back.”Once the Modi government decided to initiate decisive action, this veil of fear has been taken away and the boys and girls are feeling free enough to come forward and express their aspirations,” he said.He said what Pakistan was doing has never been a secret but what is different today is that the common man in Kashmir, particularly the youth, is now ready to join the mainstream development journey led by Modi.”This change started actually two years ago and that is the reason today this year also we have 19 young boys and girls qualifying for the IITs,” he said.On Pakistan’s role in fomenting terror, Singh said that all the information was already available but it was only Pakistan that was in a denial mode.”But what has changed now in the past few months is that countries which were hesitant to accept India’s view point for reasons of their own, are now constrained to accept India’s viewpoint as far as terror and perpetration of terrorism from Pakistan soil is concerned. Pakistan also now feels constrained to no longer continue in denial mode,” he said.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>About 100 Keralites are suspected to have joined the Islamic State over the years, police said on Saturday. The Kerala Police has collected evidence in this regard, including over 300 voice clips and messages from WhatsApp, telegram messaging applications and other social media platforms, sources here told PTI. The latest proof was an audio clip from a woman, wherein she can be heard informing her kin here about the death of her husband, who had joined ISIS. The woman can be heard saying her husband Shajil was killed recently in the ‘jihadi war’. According to the audio clip, she and her two children are still in Syria, the sources said.The woman can be heard telling her kin that many Keralite women, who have lost their husbands, and their children are in Syria, they said. The voice clip was received by Shajil’s brother. Police have another audio clip from one Qayoom, whose photos in the ISIS uniform are available on the Internet, the source said. Three men with suspected links with ISIS were arrested in the district on October 25.
ALSO READ Why is Kerala a fertile land for the ISIS?The trio, who had left Kerala years ago, were suspected to have visited Syria and reportedly received training from the terror outfit, police said.Police had also seized photocopies of tickets and visa, proving that they visited Syria, the source added. The arrested were identified as Mithilaj, Abdul Razzak and Rashid, all of whom belonged to the district.The National Investigation Agency is probing cases of disappearance of at least 21 people who had left Kerala under mysterious circumstances over a period of time and are suspected to have joined ISIS. Among them, 17 are from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad. They include four women and three children.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Within 48 hours after ISIS rattled Manhattan in the US, an alert from the Indian intelligence agencies left the Delhi Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel on their toes for the next several hours.According to the alert, a Sikh radical group being led by one Baljeet Singh Khalsa was planning to deface the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi memorials, Shakti Sthal, and Veer Bhoomi soon. The report created panic among the CISF members who had been deployed at these memorials of national and political importance.According to sources, the alert was conveyed to the CISF by the Daryaganj police station and immediate arrangements, including deploying additional force and armed Quick Response Teams (QRTs), were made, a senior officer told DNA.”The message read that an attempt to deface these two memorials would be made on November 3. We took necessary precautions, including repeated sweeping of the two memorials and their sprawling premises. Enough armed commandos and QRTs were deployed. Dog squads and bomb disposal teams were also put on standby, in order to tackle any emergency situation,” the officer said.He added that while armed CISF commandos patrolled the outer periphery of the two memorials, the Delhi Police took care of the neighbouring locality.Shakti and Veer Sthals are in close proximity with Red Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial Raj Ghat. Hours before the alert, on Tuesday, eight people were killed and almost a dozen were injured when a 29-year-old man drove a truck into a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Centre site in Manhattan, New York City. Authorities also found a note that claimed that the attack was done in the name of ISIS.Earlier last month, Khalsa, 54, was detained by the Delhi Police and objectionable posters were recovered from his possession. He was sleeping at a gurudwara in Old Delhi when a team of more than a dozen policemen detained him and brought him to the Kotwali police station. He was held as the Gurudwara workers had reported to the police that he had some objectionable posters. Khalsa was then interrogated by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for hours.FAIL SAFEThe alert was sent from Daryaganj Police Station that a Sikh radical group led by Baljeet Singh Khalsa may attack Shakti Sthal and Veer Bhoomi
As an immediate measure, the number of armed guards and QRTs were increased
Delhi Police kept up a constant patrol in adjoining areas
Dog Squads and Bomb Disposal Teams were kept on standby to tackle any emergency

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The government is considering giving more funds for coaching of minority candidates for the civil services exams, said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, central minister for minorities affairs, on Sunday. Naqvi was in Mumbai to attend ‘Role of Education and Skill Development for the Process of Minorities”, a programme organised by Siddiqui’s Educational and Welfare Trust, which is into skill development.”We are looking to give more funds for coaching of minorities. A lot of people have taken the exams and also qualified. In the last exam 52 IAS officers qualified from the minority community. We hope that in the next result too the number will go up,” said Naqvi.Naqvi said that government was not doing any favour on minorities and giving money that they deserved. “Despite problems, Muslims have always given dua that the country only move forward. The community has not allowed the ISIS to have a foothold in the country.”The minister said that the government is promoting skill development through different ways and is also looking to create hubs at different centers. “We will also have a exhibition of work of artisans. In February one such exhibition will be held at Islam Gymkhana in city.”Dr Zahir Kazi, president of Anjuman I Islam, another speaker at the event, said they were willing to become nodal agency of the government in propagating and creating awareness on the various schemes of the government related to minorities. “We would like to take that to the field level,” said Kazi.HELPING HANDIn the last exam 52 IAS officers qualified from the minority community, said Naqvi
He said the government is looking to give more funds for coaching of minorities.
The minister said the Centre is also promoting skill development through different ways.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested suspected ISIS terrorist Abu Zaid from the Mumbai Airport, a top police official said on Sunday. Zaid was arrested yesterday on his arrival from Saudi Arabia. “Abu Zaid, suspected ISIS terrorist was arrested by the ATS team from Mumbai Airport yesterday after he came from Saudi Arabia,” ADG (Law and order) Anand Kumar told reporters here. He said Zaid was residing in Riyadh and formed a social media group to allegedly radicalise youths and lure them to ISIS.”He will be brought to Lucknow on a transit remand and will be produced in the court. We will take him in police custody for interrogating him,” the ADG said. In April, the ATS had arrested four suspected ISIS terrorist Umar alias Nazim, Ghazi Baba alias Muzammil, Mufti alias Faizan and Jakawan alias Eihtesham. Zaid’s name had cropped up during interrogation. “They used to talk via an application on the Internet and Zaid was their ideologue,” the ADG said.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the lone Muslim face in the Narendra Modi government, is known for his articulated opinions. In a freewheeling interview with Kartikeya Sharma, Naqvi talks openly about national anthem debate and cow vigilantism and what does love jihad means to him.Here are excerpts of the interview:Q: What has the government done for various minorities in the country?A: Our focus is on development with dignity and we are trying to focus on segments which remained untouched during the UPA’s tenure. We don’t believe in appeasement and in past minorities were exploited. If the total amount of money set aside for the minorities would have been spent properly then none of them would have been living below the poverty line. The funds got pilfered and brokers siphoned them off.Q: Social vigilantism is an issue in India. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning, it has not come down. Why?A: I agree with you. But our focus is only on development. ‘Gau Raksha’ activism is being done by people with nefarious design. But I assure you that no destructive agenda can dominate the developmental agenda of our government. These are isolated cases. These isolated cases too should not happen and that is why PM in no uncertain words have criticised them in past. These are criminal activities which are being described by some as communal activities. It is not correct.Q: There is a raging debate on nationalism. Don’t you think this debate ultimately ends up hurting the minorities as nationalism becomes a tool for political hectoring?A: There are some people who think they are the custodians of nationalism and it is wrong. They think that they need to give certificate on nationalism. On the other hand, we have champions of secularism who believe that unless and until they don’t certify people as secular the other cannot exist as one. These two extremes are not in the interest of the country. Then there are those who accuse people for being anti-national if they don’t get up for Jana Gana Mana or Vande Matram. Whether you sing or chhose not to sing Vande Matram, it won’t make you an anti-national. But if you insult these symbols purposely then it becomes a different case all together. These are irrelevant debates.Q: How did you built consensus on Haj reforms?A: One lakh seventy thousand people from India go to Haj every year. The Supreme Court has already directed the government to frame new Haj policy for 2018. We constituted a committee and consultations took place which ended up in recommendations. We ended the ban of women not been able to perform alone. Now we have allowed group of four women to go for Haj and in future we will also allow single women to go and perform Haj. Time has changed. As far as Haj subsidy is concerned, it will be abolished by 2018. Haj subsidy never benefited the pilgrims. It went to the Air India.Q: Your government has taken strong positions on certain contentious issues like Triple Talaq. Does it pave the way for a debate on Uniform Civil Code of Law?A: We are committed towards the Uniform Civil Code of Law. It is incumbent on every government to build consensus for common civil code. It requires consultation and consensus. There has to be broad agreement on this matter.Q: Most of the times reforms have taken place because of enlightened decisions and not consensus?A: Understand that we are living in a democracy. If there is no democracy then reforms can take place any time. We will have to build consensus and it will not be forced. The Law Commission is already seized of the matter.Q: Since when inter faith marriages have become cause of national security? You also have an inter-faith marriage? How can every case of inter-faith marriage be love jihad?A: I agree with you. Yes, I have an inter-faith marriage. I don’t know where this word of love or hate jihad has come from. But also understand that no country can afford forceful conversion. I think if there is a conspiracy then it should be investigated and exposed.Q: Lot of cases of radicalisation has come to light. Young men and women joining ISIS. What is your department doing to de-radicalise such people?A: These are isolated incidents. Al-Qaeda could not succeed in India and in the same way the ISIS has not been able to succeed. Yes, there are cases but in a larger perspective it isn’t like Europe. Indian Muslims are strongly nationalistic. Our security agencies are doing the job but essentially Indians stay away from radical thoughts. If that was the case then Hindu Maha Sabha or Muslim League would have been running the government.Q: Talks on Ayodhya are on. Should there be consensus on Ayodhya?A: I think consensus, is an ideal solution. We welcome the steps taken by the civil society and we welcome it.Q: Response towards Dineshwar Sharma has been lukewarm. He is the interlocutor for Kashmir. Is there any hope?A: I don’t agree. I’m very much confident. People of Kashmir are patriotic. Time to time fanatic forces have been defeated by them. Only two districts are affected. Ladakh and Jammu are not affected.Q: How do you explain the killing of political workers? Terrorists do have sanctuaries in the Valley?A: Yes, there are hostile forces. Killing will not benefit anyone. People don’t appreciate it.Q: There is petition in the court that Hindus in some states should be given minority status?A: Government works within the framework of the Constitution. It is not logically correct or possible. Minorities are defined in the Constitution.Q: You got accused of politicising terror when you did the press conference on a hospital demanding an explanation from Ahmad Patel?A: We didn’t politicise terrorism. It is our duty to ask questions. Certain linkages came out in public domain and the Congress was asked to explain it. We did the right thing.Q: Some people said that BJP is doing it to deflect attention from demonetization and the GST that generated bad publicity?A: The performance of the government has been good. Reform, Perform and Transform is the mantra of the BJP. I think we have done a good job and in the long run it will have a positive impact.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The BJP does not have the “sole contract over nationalism”, Congress leader Ahmed Patel said today while rebutting the ruling party’s allegation about his “deep relations” with a Gujarat hospital where an alleged ISIS operative worked.The alleged ISIS operative, before his arrest, worked as a laboratory technician at Ankleshwar town’s Sardar Patel Hospital, with which Patel had been associated as a trustee. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had asked for Patel’s resignation from Parliament over the issue. Reacting to the charge, the political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi said his election to the Rajya Sabha had become an “eyesore” for the BJP.”When they face difficulties, they talk of nationalism and communalism. Recently, the chief minister said something about me, he should be ashamed (of it),” Patel said addressing a public gathering here in the presence of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.”The way they weaved the story it seems that they have the sole contract over nationalism. Only they are nationalist, nobody else is,” he said. He said the Congress and its leaders had made many sacrifices for the country.”It started with Mahatma Gandhiji, and after independence, Indiraji, Rajivji. Many party workers and leaders became target of terrorism… You cannot teach us nationalism, patriotism,” he said. “You cannot fight terrorism. You went and handed over terrorists in Kandahar (Afghanistan). How are you going to fight terrorism,” Patel said, referring to the then NDA government’s handing over of terrorist accused in exchange of passengers following the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 in 1999.Patel stressed he would not resign, adding that he had been elected by MLAs. “They are asking for my resignation. My win in the Rajya Sabha polls has become an eyesore for the BJP. I will not resign on your demand. My 44 MLAs have elected me,” Patel said, referring to the poll to the Upper House in which he had defeated his BJP rival despite cross-voting by some Congress MLAs. The BJP recently accused Patel of having “deep relations” with the hospital in Bharuch district.”I want to tell them why are you making such allegations when the country has so many security agencies. Let them investigate and come out with the truth,” the senior Congress leader said. He added that he had resigned from the hospital in 2015. “I had given (my) resignation from the hospital way back in 2015. I had joined it as the people of our area wanted us to build a good hospital. The management is different,” said Patel, who belongs to Bharuch district. “Regarding the ISIS terrorist, I have done some research. He had earlier worked in two hospitals and one of them was inaugurated by BJP leaders. Why are there no allegations against them,” he asked.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Senior IPS officer YC Modi took charge as the chief of National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday. He was named as the outgoing Director General Sharad Kumar’s successor last month, and was appointed Officer on Special Duty so that he gets a month to settle in before taking full-charge.Modi, an IPS officer of the 1984 batch from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre was serving in CBI since 2015 where he was Additional Director. This was his second stint with the agency where he had also served between 2002 and 2010.Modi succeeds Sharad Kumar under whose tenure the NIA investigated cases like the Bodhgaya Temple blast, explosions during the Patna rally of the then BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Pathankot airbase attack, ISIS links and the Jammu and Kashmir terror- funding case.”Many important cases such as the United National Liberation Front case, Dilsukhnagar (Hyderabad) blast case, ISIS conspiracy cases and Fake Indian Currency Notes cases resulted in conviction,” the agency said in a statement.In another development senior police officer AP Maheshwari was appointed Director General of Bureau of Police Research and Development, on Monday.Maheshwari, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently a Special Director in Border Security Force.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on Sunday met Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Eshaiker al-Jaafari in Baghdad, and held meetings with Iraqi National Security Advisor and Chief of Staff of the Army to coordinate search operations for the 39 missing Indians and find concrete information related to their whereabouts.The news agencies earlier quoted him saying that the search in Mosul and Badush to trace missing Indians has not revealed any positive results. He also said that Operation Hunt was over in Iraq. General Singh said “we will now have to rely on DNA samples” to ascertain the fate of the 39 Indians who were earlier believed to be held in ISIS captivity in Mosul and neighbouring areas. The minister said the search teams have explored all possible avenues and inputs in Mosul, Badoush and Talafar, but no positive results of any leads could be found. He said that the DNA samples collected from some of the family members of missing persons had been sent to match with the database in Iraq, and also with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).There are some mentally unstable ISIS captives in Iraqi prisons, but they are unable to identify themselves. “We will not lose hope as we have no conclusive proof they are dead or alive,” said VK Singh.The 39 Indians were kidnapped by terrorist group ISIS in June 2014. Among them, 22 were from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar in Punjab. One person, Harjit Masih, who escaped from ISIS captivity, claimed that the rest were shot dead.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A slew of phone conversations between Al Qeada-affiliate Ansar Gazwat ul-Hind leader Zakir Musa and slain Lashkar-e-Toeba chief Abu Dujana, has blown a lid off the fault-lines in the terror leadership in Kashmir and Pakistan.Released by hitherto unknown Al-Sindh, the phone conversation between the two leaders focus on the betrayal by Pakistani terrorists with Kashmir-based ultras.”I talked to Paarwalay (people across the border). You release an audio saying that you are not with Zakir Musa and he is creating fitana (discord).” They were saying Zakir Musa gave a tip off to get Abbas Bhai (terrorist killed in Kakpora) killed.The 26-year-old Abu Dujana, Chief Operational Commander, Lashkar-e-Toeba, who was the most-wanted leader after Burhan Wani, was killed along with his aide Arif Nabi Dar in a swift surgical operation by a joint team of Army, Police, and CRPF at Hakripora village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on August 1.”I talked to Rehan and Abdullah. They told me that Paarwalay demand pinpoint location (of terrorists). Rehan told me that those locations are being raided as soon as they are being disclosed,” Musa is heard telling Dujana.Zakir Musa — a former Hizbul Mujahedeen leader who has gone rogue and called for caliphate in Kashmir — was named the Ameer (chief) of Al-Qaeda linked jihadist group Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind in Kashmir on July 27. This is for the first time in the 27-year history of insurgency that a global jihadi group made its foray into the restive Jammu and Kashmir.”Dujana Bhai, I want to tell you one thing, please sever ties with Pakistani outfits. You stay focused. If you are on the right path, it hardly matters if you are one or many,” said Musa.The phone conversation was released seven days after United Jihad Council (UJC), an umbrella group of over a dozen terror outfits based in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, claimed that a new Ikhwan (disbanded pro-government militia) is being created in the name of ISIS and Al-Qadia using the façade of Zakir Musa.Revealed…Phone conversation between Musa and Dujani was released seven days after United Jihad Council claimed that a new Ikhwan is being created in the name of ISIS and Al Qaeda.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>One of the two suspected ISIS ‘head-hunters’ based in Gujarat and arrested on October 25 for recruiting youth for terror attacks worked at a prominent hospital in Gujarat, while his accomplice was a law student.The duo was planning attacks on the Jewish community, the police said.After the being arrested by Gujarat Police’s Anti Terror Squad (ATS), Stimberwala Mohammed Kasim, who worked as an echo-cardiogram (ECG) technician at the Sardar Patel Hospital and Heart Institute, Ankleshwar, resigned from his job.Interestingly, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel has an old association with the hospital. The hospital’s website says: “On the 17th of June 1979 the Sardar Patel trust met under the auspices of Bhailalbhai Patel, Ahmed Patel and other trustees to establish the Sardar Vallabhai Rotary General Hospital.”When DNA sought his reaction, Patel said, “Let’s not divide peace-loving Gujaratis while fighting terrorism. We request that matters of national security not be politicised keeping elections in mind. The allegations are completely baseless. My party and I appreciate the ATS’s effort to nab the two terrorists. I demand strict and speedy action against them.”Kasim, along with Ubed Ahmed Mirza, was arrested for planning “lone wolf attacks”. He had planned to leave for hijrat to Jamaica and meet radical preacher Abdullah el-Faisal, who had been guiding them.The Gujarat ATS has stated in its report that the duo were planning attacks on the Jewish community.”Reconnaissance of Magean Abraham Synagogue in Ahmedabad was conducted by Kasim Stimberwala recently after discussion with Ubed Mirza,” the report stated.Police surveillance has revealed that Kasim was planning to move to Jamaica as a ECG technician and had obtained a work visa. “Both the accused persons are making intensive efforts to radicalise and actively recruit youth from various spectrums of society,” the Gujarat ATS report says.Based on “technical surveillance,” the police has quoted several telephonic conversations to establish how they were radicalising youth and recruiting them to carry out attacks in the name of ISIS.The two were involved in the activities of the Islamic State since 2013-14 and were in contact with Shafi Armar, alias Zahid al-Hindi, the police has stated in its report.Armar is wanted in various cases of bomb blasts carried out by Indian Mujahideen and is suspected to have joined ISIS after being on the run and was based in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region initially. He has been responsible for radicalisation of several Indian Muslim youth and luring them to ISIS.Sources in the ATS said the two youth are part of a group of 15 young men loyal to ISIS. “Of this, at least nine are from Ahmedabad and Surat. Six have already been radicalised and can carry out lone wolf attacks anywhere in Gujarat,” said a source in the ATS.?Investigations have also revealed that the two Surat residents arrested on Wednesday for links with ISIS were also allegedly involved in recruiting for terror activities.The duo first came under lens of Intelligence agencies when in August 2014 a group of four boys from Hyderabad was apprehended in Kolkata as they were on their way to Bangladesh — from where they were headed to Iraq to join ISIS.The youth revealed the identities of two of their handlers as Kasim and Ubed Mirza alias Obaid and also provided their phone numbers.While Kasim was traced working at the Sardar Patel hospital in Gujarat, Ubed, a law student, ran a restaurant in Surat.The hospital, however, denied any wrongdoing on its part. It said that Kasim had resigned from his job as eco technician on October 4, and he was relieved on October 24.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad has identified an air hostess who allegedly has links with ISIS recruits, a media report said on Friday.According to a Times of India reports, the name of the air hostess came up during interrogation of two alleged ISIS recruits. These operatives were arrested from Surat and Ankleshwar recently.Surat-based lawyer Ubaid Mirza and Kasim Stimberwala, a lab technician from Ankleshwar are highly-radicalised men, who along with others were planning to smuggle gold in India for an ISIS operation. Mirza had decided to turn to illegal business after suffering heavy losses in his hotel business in Surat.According to the ATS officials, the air hostess was supposed to help them to smuggle yellow metal in the country. During the questioning, another woman’s name also cropped up. The woman, who is allegedly close to Stimberwala was meant to help other radicalised men to cross from Kolkata to Bangladesh.It was these four men who were arrested in time and then they revealed the plot.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A British member of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist network, dubbed as the “White Widow” by UK media, has been killed along with her minor son in a US drone strike in Syria, media reports said on Thursday.Sally Jones, known for her prolific pro-ISIS propaganda on social media and often described as the world’s most wanted terrorist, is believed to have been killed along with her 12- year-old son Jojo.The 50-year-old was a punk rocker from the county of Kent in England before she converted to Islam and went on to become one of the most notorious recruiters for ISIS.”The premise that Sally Jones and her son are dead is probably accurate,” a UK government source was quoted as saying by The Times.Jones’ husband, 21-year-old Junaid Hussain who was a computer hacker from Birmingham and also an ISIS member, was killed in a drone strike in the terrorist group’s former stronghold of Raqqa, northern Syria, in August 2015.British intelligence had assisted in that operation.MI6 spies were reportedly tracking the movements of Jones, who travelled with Jojo to Syria in 2013 to marry Hussain.The husband and wife were since on a US “kill list” of high-value targets.Jones’ death brings to at least six the number of known British ISIS terrorists to have been killed in drone strikes in Syria.The true number is likely to be higher as it is often difficult to verify the identity of jihadists killed from the air.According to ‘The Sun’ newspaper, a US Air Force Predator drone was used to kill Jones, who had adopted the Islamic nom de guerre of Umm Hussain al-Britani.She had been attempting to flee Raqqa as it came under increased bombardment from the US, British and other coalition aircraft as well as American-backed local forces on the ground in the long-running campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.Jones grew in notoriety during her four years in the war zone of Syria.She attempted to brainwash young girls to travel to Syria to become jihadist brides and also took to social media to threaten attacks on Britain.Her husband ran a hacking unit for ISIS.Jones also allowed son Jojo to take part in a propaganda video in which he was seen shooting a hostage in the back of the head alongside other young boys.Other high-profile British jihadists killed in drone strikes include Mohammed Emwazi, dubbed Jihadi John, who beheaded a number of western hostages on video.He died in a joint US-British operation in November 2015.​

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>It was a red-face moment for the government as an affidavit regarding the deportation of Rohingyas, which was still being filed, was out in public domain. It was later clarified that the copy of the affidavit served to a lawyer associated with the case was a “mistake” as it was not yet finalised.The affidavit was to be filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the ongoing proceedings in a petition filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan on the Centre’s stand to deport Rohingyas, a Muslim community of Myanmar that has faced persecution in their country.The eight-page draft affidavit, signed by the Deputy Secretary (Foreigners Division ), MHA Ravi S, states, “The decision to deport illegal immigrants (Rohingyas) in the case on hand has been taken in the larger public interest and in the interest of national security.”The draft affidavit also said intelligence agencies, who have submitted their inputs, state that many of the illegal immigrants have managed to fraudulently obtain official Indian identity documents and also “figure in suspected sinister designs of the ISIS/ other extremists groups who have ulterior motives in India…”A Home Ministry spokesperson clarified that no affidavit has been filed on the subject in the Supreme Court, adding that it is in process.Some of the Rohingyas with a terror background are found to be active in Jammu (where most of them have been camping), Hyderabad, and Mewat have been identified as posing serious and potential threat to internal security.It was submitted that due to the large influx of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring countries, the demographic profile of some of the bordering states have undergone a serious change causing far-reaching complications in various contexts.The affidavit also insists that there are around 40,000 Rohingyas in India, though the United Nations says there are 16,000.It also added that India’s track record in dealing with illegal immigrants from Tibet, Bangladesh, Sri Lankan Tamils has been internationally acclaimed.Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday hit out at those criticising the government’s decision to deport Rohingyas saying it is a “calibrated design” to “tarnish” India’s image.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>After 16 months of captivity, Father Tom Uzhunnalil is a free man today.The Catholic priest from Kottayam, Kerala who was kidnapped in March last year has been freed with help from Oman.Ever since his abduction on March 4 from an old people’s home in Yemen’s Aden, there were various reports that circulated the news of his death.Father Tom was the only supervisor of the brutal attack in Aden, purportedly by the ISIS, which killed 16 people including 4 Indian nuns.Around 20 days later, on March 25, there were local reports that the Indian priest has been crucified on Good Friday.Even as the global outrage intensified after the reported crucifixion, the Indian authorities maintained that Father Tom is safe.On April 3, India issued a statement saying that Father Tom is very much alive and safe.The case hit international headlines after Pope Francis appealed for Father Tom’s release.In his Sunday Regina Coeli address at St Peter’s Square on April 10, the Pope said, “I renew my appeal for the freeing of all kidnapped persons in armed conflict zones. In particular, I wish to remember Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden, Yemen last March 4.”Around July, a video of a man believed to be the priest went viral. The viral video showed the blindfolded priest being thrashed by some people.A day before Christmas, another video is released on YouTube on December 24, in which the priest asks the Indian authorities to rescue him.More videos are released. In yet another video released in May this year on a local news website, Father Tom pleaded for help. “They are treating me well to the extent they are able,” he said, speaking slowly in English.”My health condition is deteriorating quickly and I require hospitalization as early as possible,” he added in the recording. The date April 15, 2017 was written on a cardboard pasted on his body.On July 11, this year, the Yemen officials convey to to India that Father Tom is alive.On Tuesday, with help from Sultan of Oman, Father Tom is rescued.In a photo issued by the Oman news agency ONA, the priest appears in good health.The priest, who is in Muscat right now, will be flying to India later on Tuesday.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Indian priest kidnapped by ISIS freed, tweets Sushma SwarajExternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest abducted by ISIS from Yemen in March 2016 has been rescued. Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by the terror group, which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. Read all our full report here.Jyalalithaa to be ‘eternal general secretary’, says united AIADMK campThe All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to sack VK Sasikala from interim General Secretary post. “Late J Jayalalithaa will be the permanent GS of the party,” the resolution said. It also abolished the GS posts. The meeting also adopted a resolution to retrieve two leaves symbol frozen by Election Commission. It also ratified merger of O Panneerselvan and Edappadi K Palanisami factions. Read all our full report here.Rahul Gandhi’s attack on Centre in US kicks up political storm in IndiaThe BJP on Tuesday attacked Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his comment on dynasty while addressing students at the University of California, and called him a failed leader. Hitting back at those who have accused him of reaping the benefits of ‘dynasty politics’, Rahul said that the entire nation is running on it and hence, one should not go only after him. Read all our full report here.iPhone 8 launch event tonight: 9 announcements we expect from AppleToday’s the big day as Apple CEO Tim Cook will take to stage at the brand new Steve Jobs Theater to announce a slew of products. While there is no denying that the next-gen iPhone or the iPhone 8 or the iPhone X will be the showstopper, what will also draw attention is the Apple Watch 3, Apple TV upgrade, and possibly a new augmented reality hardware. Here are the nine announcements we expect from the event scheduled for 10:00AM PDT (10:30PM IST). Read all our full report here.Barrel of newly-acquired M Howitzer gun damaged after field firing in PokhranThe Indian Army suffered a setback after its latest acquisition, the M-777 Howitzer, suffered an accident during field firing in Pokhran on September 2 that resulted in the gun’s barrel getting damaged. No injury has been reported, sources said. As per reports, the barrel of the gun has been damaged, extent of which is being assessed by Joint Investigation Team. Read all our full report here.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The growing threat of radicalisation with the lure of terror groups like Islamic State (ISIS) for thousands of youth has been one of the biggest internal security concerns for the home ministry. To deal with this threat, a change of strategy was introduced with the focus being on counter-radicalisation and a more proactive cyber monitoring mechanism.Bringing militants into the mainstreamThe home ministry’s counter-radicalisation approach which started two years back is yielding positive results. Counter terror agencies say that they are now being told to wait and watch suspects with arrests only being made after they cross a certain threshold. Officials also say that in many cases, after being intercepted, the suspects have not been taken into custody. Instead, with the help of family members and local community leaders, many have been “de-radicalised” and brought back into the mainstream.The government clearly views its de-radicalisation strategy as a success. Presenting a report card in June over what his ministry had achieved over the last three years, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the fact that terror groups like ISIS had failed to establish themselves in India – despite the country’s large Muslim population – was a sign the government’s policies were working.Dealing with security challengesBut while that may be so the government cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Figures show that till now over 90 ISIS aspirants have been arrested from across the country with Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu being the hotbed of activity for attracting young Muslims to jihad.Experts say that to deal with such security challenges, the sharing of intelligence needs to be improved and cyber security must play a larger role in combating terrorism. “There is an urgent need to have a robust mechanism of sharing intelligence in real time between Centre and state, various intelligence agencies and even private organisations that can help,” said a senior home ministry official.On the issue of cyber security, former Home Secretary GK Pillai said old fashioned techniques of gathering intelligence were obsolete and technology had to play a larger role. “There are people who want to still do the things the old way but today the use of technology in intelligence gathering is a must. There has to be a change in the governance pattern to attract youngsters with technical knowhow to assist them in fighting terror threats.”Normalising the situation in J&KDespite condemnation from certain sections over the government allowing the Army and security forces to use excessive force to curb stone pelters in the Valley last year, the ministry claims that the situation has vastly improved today thanks to its policies.According to data from the home ministry, 583 cases have been registered this year against 2,897 cases last year. The data also states that the 2,808 incidents of stone pelting that rocked the Valley last year have come down to 664 in 2017.Asked to explain the reason for the drop in figures, ministry officials say it is thanks to more effective anti-terror operations this year. Ministry data shows that over 135 terrorists have so far been killed this year, as compared to last year’s tally of 150, and it is expected that this year’s tally will overtake 2016 by the year end.Officials believe that this “firm hand” against militancy has led to the drop in terror attacks this year. On July 9, 2017 the ministry informed Parliament that there were 172 recorded incidents of “violence by militants” in the state this year as compared to 322 in 2016. They concluded that by end 2017, the number of terror attacks would be far less than 2016.Fighting the Maoist threatApart from J&K, one of the biggest internal security challenges for the country has been the Maoist insurgency. Though it has shown signs of a decline in recent times, the Maoist threat is far from over. The challenges have certainly taken a toll on security personnel who are taking on rebels indulging in guerrilla warfare. Using their knowledge of the local terrain, guerrillas have planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ambushed security forces which has often resulted in mass killings.The good news is that in the last three years between July 2014 and June 2017 there has been a 22 percent dip in Maoist violence. The government says that the news is all the more welcome considering that the preceding three year period, during the UPA regime, between 2011 and 2014 saw an increase of 78 percent in Maoist attacks.Ministry officials claim the fall in the Maoist attacks is thanks to the dual policy it is following – first of development in the interior areas controlled by Maoists, and second, going after the top leadership. This policy with its focus on road projects, installation of mobile towers for better communication and more recruitment of locals in the Forces has shown some positive signs.However, challenges remain. Ministry officials admit that the government’s bid to expedite road projects in highly troubled areas has not been that encouraging. For instance, the under construction road where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, has still not been completed for the last three years. The failure to complete the road has continued to risk the lives of the Forces there.On the positive side, the government points to the fact that more and more Maoists are being persuaded to give up the gun. Last year, a record breaking 1,442 surrenders by the red rebels was cited as a high point of success for security forces, the various state governments and the Centre.However, critics have raised questions about the extremely high number of surrenders with some terming them as “fake” or staged. The fact that intelligence agencies too in the past have claimed that “fake surrenders” have been taking place, does take some of the shine away from the government’s claims of success in combating the Maoist threat.Modernising the ForcesEnsuring internal security and safeguarding the border areas cannot be done without modernising and keeping up the Forces’ morale. In this regard, the ministry is facing some challenges. Shortage of arms and ammunition, lack of promotional opportunities, inadequate medical facilities, and allegations of corruption against senior officers by their juniors, are huge challenges for the ministry to overcome.While the ministry has to deal with these challenges quickly, the Forces also need to keep pace with changing technologies, not only to be more effective but also safeguard themselves against new techniques being adopted by the enemy.The Maoists for example have intensified the use of IEDs and have been using new technologies for this. IEDs have accounted for a high number of CRPF deaths in the red zone. Naturally, the Central Reserve Police Force – the main Force that deals with Maoists – wants to upgrade their equipment to deal with this threat, and have written to the ministry about this.Such challenges ensure that the home ministry, despite a string of successes, has much work to do to ensure the country’s internal security. It remains to be seen just how they go about doing this.WHAT OUR FORCES DOCentral Armed Police Forces
Assist state police organisations in special circumstances like communal riots, insurgency and border skirmishes
Border Security Force & Indo Tibetan Border Police
Guard the Pakistan, Bangladesh and China borders
Central Reserve Police Force
They are main force combating Maoists
Central Industrial Security Force
Guards airports and provides security to industries
Sashastra Seema Bal
Guards the Indo-Nepal border

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju tells Abhishek Bhalla a crackdown on terror funding has ensured the nation’s securityThere has been turmoil in Kashmir for the last one year. What is the situation now?By their continuous use of violence, the separatists and terrorists adopted means that didn’t leave any space for dialogue. The response required was strong physical operations on the ground to ensure peace and tranquillity in Kashmir. Due to the high success rate in these operations, the morale of the Forces has remained high.What is the government’s long term strategy to deal with the situation in Kashmir?Our approach is rational. Those using illegal methods to raise funds and keeping connections with the enemy cannot be spared. So tough action by the NIA against terror funding and keeping forces on the ground are part of government’s resolve to ensure no group can endanger security.How serious is the ISIS threat in India and what steps have been taken in this regard?India is not facing a threat from ISIS because of our proactive approach. On the ground, community elders and clergy have played an important role in ensuring the youth do not go astray. On the government’s side, state governments, along with the Centre, have been putting in a concerted effort towards de-radicalisation.What is your assessment of the current status of the Maoist insurgency?The Maoist challenge is immense but they have been on the retreat for some time now. The high number of surrenders by their leaders and cadres has put them on the back foot and they are very defensive now. Along with operations development in these areas, our aim is to reach out to the poor tribal people. Lack of development was one of the reasons why they (the Maoists) gained ground. Once development reaches them, they will not be able to fool people. In the past 70 years, the governments neglected the tribal people and that is why the Maoists gained ground.What is your response to allegations that communal harmony is in danger?As far as communal harmony is concerned the home ministry has taken steps in the right direction. Advisories were sent to all states to deal with these situations when they arose, and incidents of lynching in the name of cow vigilantism have been strictly dealt with. Only parties like the Congress and some pseudo secularists are trying to create a problem. This is an issue I raised in Parliament while speaking on the subject.What is the current situation regarding the insurgency in the North East?There is a dip in insurgency in the North East and most of the states are moving towards normalcy. The peace framework with NSCN (IM) is moving in the right direction.Border security has always been a concern. What measures is the government taking to better secure our borders?Technological solutions are being adopted to enhance border security. That is the way forward. Hi-tech gadgets for surveillance, better communication system have been put in place. New technology is the way forward for better border management.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> Dubbing ‘Love Jihad’ as a dimension of terrorism, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy on Thursday asserted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the appropriate agency for the investigation as in the latest case the girl was allegedly being sent to the ISIS. Speaking to ANI here, Swamy said, “The Love Jihad is a dimension of terrorism; they are going to be recruited for terrorist activities. These Love Jihadis are preying on young girls. They are compromising them, taking photographs of them, blacking them and then making them convert to Islam. In the latest case, the girl was being sent to the ISIS. So, therefore the NIA is the appropriate agency for the investigation into this.” Swamy further stated that this Love Jihad is an induced conversion against the Constitution of India. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had ordered the NIA to investigate the Kerala Love Jihad case, besides asking retired Apex Court judge Justice R.V. Raveendran to monitor the matter. The case pertains to the annullment of the marriage of a Hindu woman to a Muslim man, post her conversion, by the Kerala High Court as it amounted to ?Love Jihad?. Shafin, who had married Akhila Ashokan in December last, had moved the apex court after the Kerala High Court annulled the marriage. The Kerala government said that if the apex court wants an NIA probe, it has no objections. The SC said that after getting inputs from the NIA and Kerala police probe, it would interview Akhila to ascertain her views.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Days ahead of Independence Day, the Delhi Police got yet another set of anti-terror Parakram vehicles on Friday. These vehicles will be deployed at strategic and vulnerable locations, usually crowded places that might become a target of terror activities. The step has been taken to step up the vigil and ensure multi-level security blanket over the Capital.Earlier in May this year, 10 Parakram vans were deployed as a pilot project. Senior officers said that after the impact assessment, 14 more vans were added to the fleet. These vans are meant to tackle terror activities and other such serious law and order problems, the officer said. The primary aim of deploying these vehicles is to instill a feeling of security and safety among citizens through visibility deterrence, the officer added.”ISIS has surfaced to threaten world peace. Even Western countries with fool-proof and advanced intelligence systems have been targetted by groups such as ISIS, as is evident from recent incidents of terrorism in Manchester, Nice in France, London, Brussels, and Paris. The situation on the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K is volatile, and Delhi being the national Capital has to remain prepared to thwart the evil designs of wrongdoers. The job of the law and order enforcing agencies here is onerous and they have to remain one up to counter any nefarious designs,” Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak said.He further said the Parakram vans will be located at select vulnerable, strategic, and iconic points that witness high footfall. The Phase I Parakram vans were located at Vijay Chowk, Palika Bazaar, Saket Select Citywalk Mall, Police Headquarters, Pacific Mall, Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple, Chandni Chowk, Jhandewalan, and DLF Mall in Vasant Kunj.The newly inducted 14 Parakram vans will be located at the Supreme Court of India, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Area, Delhi High Court, Khan Market, Parliament House, India Gate, LG House, Sarojini Nagar Market, Lajpat Nagar Market, Akbar Road, and Netaji Subhash Palace. Two vans will be reserved for emergencies.”All these vans are GPRS-enabled and fitted with pan-Delhi wireless communication system. Each van has been provided with a phablet with internet connectivity and recording facility. Every van will be manned by a driver, an in-charge, and three commandos. The drivers will be armed with small weapons and will be trained by the NSG in offensive or evasive driving. The in-charges will be wearing tactical vests and will be equipped with stunner guns with light, body-worn camera, pepper spray, baton, and so on. Commandos will be in war mode round-the-clock and will be attired in dungaree fatigues to enable agile movement,” Pathak said.Talking about the weapons, Pathak said the commandos will be armed with AK-47 and MP-5 rifles, and provided with tactical gear, including BP Jacket, tact belt with pouches, all-weather caps, arms and knee pads, anti-ballistic goggles, half gloves, and pepper spray.”All the commandos have undergone firing training at the Delhi Police Short Range training facility in Old Police Lines, Civil Lines. The contingent of commandos also includes women,” he said.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>An Alappuzha native has been taken into custody on Friday by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) over alleged links with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).The development came after the NIA on Thursday conducted searches at two locations in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, and one location in Kerala’s Alappuzha as part of investigation in connection with the Omar Al-Hindi ISIS Module case.There are indications that CDs, Pen-drives and leaflets relate to the alleged IS connection has been seized from the house of Alappuzha native.Police seized his laptop and mobile phones for forensic examination.His mother, however, told the media that her son never had involved in such activities.A charge-sheet was filed in the case under Sections 120B, 121 and 122 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) besides Sections 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on March 29 against six arrested accused persons besides absconding accused Shajeer Abdullah Mangalassery, who, while being outside India had hatched the criminal conspiracy and formed the terrorist gang to further the objectives of ISIS in India.An investigation in the case had revealed that charge-sheeted accused Shajeer Mangalassery had migrated to an ISIS controlled territory in Afghanistan from the UAE in June, 2016.After the arrest of accused persons in this case in October, 2016, absconder Mangalassery, using the online identities Abu Ayisha or Sameer Ali, had been radicalizing vulnerable youth on the ideology of ISIS, over the social media platforms and has exhorted them to indulge in violent jihad in India.Based on reliable information, the NIA conducted searches at houses and workplaces of such persons.Inputs had also revealed that such radicalized individuals were inclined to support and further the objectives of the proscribed terrorist organization ISIS.During the searches conducted on the basis of the warrants issued by the Special NIA court, Ernakulam, several mobile phones, laptops, hard disks, pen drives, DVDs/ CDs, memory cards, SIM cards besides documents including books and manuscripts have been seized.One of the three persons whose premises have been searched has admitted that he had been in regular contact with Abdul Rashid Abdullah, accused in the other ISIS related cases of the NIA.The suspects are being examined by the NIA investigators to ascertain the facts regarding their involvement in this case.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The sources who gave the government confidence of not abandoning the search for 39 Indians abducted in Iraq include a “head of state and a foreign minister of another country,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha today. She, however, refused to disclose the identity of the sources, citing “diplomatic confidentiality”. Making a statement in response to Zero Hour mention on the issue raised by Pratap Singh Bajwa (Cong) on July 19, Swaraj vehemently denied that she ever misled Parliament or the country on the fate of the people abducted three years back. She said she has all through maintained that there is no proof of the abducted Indians being alive or dead. And in absence of “solid proof”, it is a “sin” at personal level and irresponsible act on the part of the government to declare them dead, the minister said. She asked, “Why should I apologise? That I did not declare them dead?” Opposition Congress, however, tried to corner her by saying the government has been changing goal posts all through and she has to give “one proof” for believing they are alive. “I have said in Parliament and outside that I have no evidence of their being alive or dead,” Swaraj said, adding in absence of any solid evidence or proof she cannot presume them dead. “We are not sitting idle. All countries which can help have been asked for help,” she said and added, “Why will I mislead? What will I gain? What will I gain, what will my government gain by misleading?” Bajwa countered Swaraj’s assertion, asking what would Harjit Masih, one of the abducted Indians who had escaped, gain by claiming that he had witnessed the 39 being shot dead. Responding to this, the minister said she was first to speak to Masih after he called up on but did not provide convincing reply how he was able to escape from the ISIS captivity. Also, family of one of the abducted persons had received a call from the captors, saying the captive was alive, she said. The minister threw a challenge to the Congress leader, saying if he was convinced that the Indians are dead, he can call up the families and tell them that. Swaraj said she had never stated that the 39 Indians are alive and that she will ensure they come back home safe. She said she had in the past told the Parliament that in absence of a proof, the option before the government was to abandon search or continue its efforts to locate them. “I had asked for permission of House (to continue efforts to locate them) and had not just taken it in confidence,” she said, claiming the members had given their consent by thumping of desk or nodding. The minister said her deputy V K Singh had travelled to Iraq on the very next day ISIS was overthrown from Mosul on July 9 this year. Senior Iraqi officials told him that they had information of the Indians being picked up from Mosul airfield three years back and after holding them in captivity for some time, they were made to work in a hospital and then in agriculture field. Thereafter they were in early 2016 shifted to the prison at Badush, some 30-km away of Mosul town, she said. “That is the last known location,” she said, adding she had informed the families of the victims about the same. Countering the Congress charge, she said this government knows how to protect its people. “Relief for stranded person abroad is one tweet away,” she said, adding 80,000 people have been helped by her ministry in last three years. These are onces for whom the government paid air-tickets and does not include the numbers who were helped but had paid for their own ticket, she said. “This government’s credibility cannot be questioned relating to protection of its citizens,” she said. Swaraj said the day evidence is available, she will inform Parliament without delay and if Parliament is not in session, she would take to the twitter in 10 minutes to make the news public. “Without evidence I will not declare them dead,” she asserted. Bajwa asked why the government was not believing the version of Harjit Masih and sought to know the 5-6 sources she keeps quoting for her statement. He said upon the fall of Mosul, it was said that the Indians are in the prison at Badush but that jail was demolished three months back. “They have misled the Parliament. They have misled the country,” he said. “Give one proof how do you say they are alive.” He said an all-party delegation should be sent to Iraq to get the first hand account. Swaraj said he asked Masih how did he survive but he did not give a convincing answer. “He wants to mislead how he came out (of ISIS captivity).” She said the Congress was using the issue as a political agenda. “There is a difference between information and proof. There is no proof,” she said. I have said there is no solid proof of their being alive or dead.”(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said that there was no proof to suggest that Indians missing in Iraq are dead.”Why should I believe Harjit Masih’s claims that the 39 Indians are dead? It is a crime to do this without proper proof,” said Swaraj in Parliament.One of 40 ISIS abductees, Harjit Masih, returned to India escaping the terror group, and has claimed that the Islamic State killed all 39 remaining abductees.Srinagar: Separatist leader Shabir Shah arrested by ED in money laundering case”Iraq has never said that the 39 Indians missing are dead,” she added.The External Affairs Minister also said that it is a sin to declare a person dead without concrete evidence.A day ago, Iraq said it has no ‘substantial evidence’ on whether the 39 Indians taken captive in Mosul three years ago are alive or dead, while confirming that the prison at Badush, their last known location, has been demolished by terror group ISIS.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on July 16, based on information gathered by minister VK Singh during his visit to the city after its recent “liberation” from ISIS, stated that the abducted Indians may be lodged in the jail, located in northwest Mosul.In 2014, 39 Indian labourers, mostly from Punjab, were taken hostage by ISIS when it overran Iraq’s second largest city Mosul. The workers were trying to leave Mosul when they were intercepted.Alleging that Ms Swaraj had ‘lost all credibility’, Congress leader from Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa had said that Swaraj had said that these hostages were held in a dilapidated jail in Badush.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Iraq today said it has no “substantial evidence” on whether the 39 Indians taken captive in Mosul three years ago are alive or dead, while confirming that the prison at Badush, their last known location, has been demolished by terror group ISIS.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on July 16, based on information gathered by minister VK Singh during his visit to the city after its recent “liberation” from ISIS, stated that the abducted Indians may be lodged in the jail, located in northwest Mosul.”ISIS had seized control of Badush jail. The jail was demolished. We do not have any details on whether the Indians went under the rubble. We will continue to look for more details about them,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari told a press conference here.He said Singh’s information, that the Indians were lodged in the jail, was based on inputs gathered before its demolition.The issue was raised by Swaraj during extensive talks with al-Jaafari, who began a five-day India visit today, nearly two weeks after Mosul’s liberation by Iraqi forces.”We don’t know whether they are dead or alive. We are equally concerned. There is no substantial evidence whether they are alive or not. We are making the best efforts,” he said.The minister said the Iraqi government will make all possible efforts to trace the Indians, while expressing hope that they are alive.”My deep compassion and sympathy are with the families of the Indians. I consider them as my children,” he said, while praising Swaraj for her “persistent efforts” in following up the case.”We will do our utmost in the case, but it may take time,” he said.He also observed that ISIS had a strategy of shifting prisoners from one place to another and of spreading fake news.Asked about the fate of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who as per recent reports has been killed, al-Jafaari said that the Iraqi government was not “100 per cent certain” and that it was in the process of obtaining details, including his DNA to ascertain if he was dead.In a meeting with the relatives of the abducted Indians last week, Swaraj had said they might be languishing in a jail in Badush in northwest of Mosul where fighting was going on.However, a media report from Badush on Friday said the jail is now an abandoned structure and has been unoccupied for weeks.Swaraj is likely to make a detailed statement in Parliament tomorrow about her meeting with her Iraqi counterpart.In the talks, Swaraj and al-Jaafari decided to take steps to boost cooperation in areas of education, trade, energy and healthcare, official sources said.The volume of bilateral trade in 2016-17 was nearly USD 13 billion. Iraq contributes significantly to India’s energy security and is the second largest supplier of crude oil to India in 2016-17 with a total volume of over 37 MMT.The Iraqi foreign minister also met Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. India had requested Iraq to locate the 39 missing Indians, mostly from Punjab, after Iraqi forces recaptured Mosul from ISIS. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh was also sent to Iraq days after the Iraqi prime minister announced victory in the fight to liberate Mosul.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The withdrawal of the VIP access given to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi at the Patna airport is “unfortunate and condemnable”, a party MP said in the Lok Sabha today. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, RJD member Jaiprakash Narayan said considering the health condition of his party’s supremo, the tarmac access pass of Prasad and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi should be restored. Last week, the Civil Aviation Ministry had decided to revoke the permission granted in 2009 allowing the RJD chief and his wife’s vehicle to drive up to the tarmac. Under the earlier order, the two former chief ministers were permitted access in their own vehicle up to the tarmac of Patna airport during their departure or arrival there. Lalu was the chief minister of Bihar from 1990 to 1997 when he was forced to step down following corruption charges. His wife Rabri took over as the chief minister and served until 2005. The RJD is an alliance partner with the JD(U) in the present Bihar government and their son Tejashwi Yadav is the deputy chief minister. During the Zero Hour, Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) raised the issue of Indians held captive in Iraq. Chandumajra demanded that the Government should inform the families about the situation facing these people and help their families. 39 Indians were abducted in Iraq by the ISIS in June 2014.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The war of words between Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and senior Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader and Telangana Minister for Industries and Commerce K.T. Rama Rao has escalated into a major Twitter squabble with them slapping oblique comments against each other.Hours after the Congress leader, who was removed as the party in-charge of Goa and Karnataka after the party’s poor performance in the Assembly elections, tweeted, “Huge Drug Scam in Telangana. Influential friends of TRS heir apparent involved. Let’s see if they would be saved or prosecuted. Let’s see,” KTR too took to the micro-blogging site to take a dig at the senior leader.KTR advised Digvijaya to retire from active politics “gracefully” and “do something worth your age.””You’ve completely lost it sir. Time to retire gracefully & do something worth your age. Glad that you’ve finally learnt to spell’Telangana’,” he tweeted.This is not the first time when Digvijaya has hit out at the Telangana Government.Earlier, Digvijaya, in a series of tweets, had alleged that the Telangana Police had set up a fake ISIS website to lure Muslims.”Telangana Police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim youths and encouraging them to become ISIS modules. Is it ethical? Is it moral? Has (Chief Minister) KCR authorised Telangana Police to trap Muslim youths and encourage them to join ISIS? If he has, then shouldn’t he own the responsibility and resign?” the senior Congress leader tweeted.The Congress leader also raised questions on suspected ISIS member Saifullah’s encounter.”It was on their information that MP Police arrested accused who were responsible for the bomb blast in train in Shajapur District of MP. It also resulted in Saifullaha encounter in Kanpur the same day,” he tweeted.Following this, KTR tweeted, “Most irresponsible and reprehensible thing coming from a former Chief Minister. I request you to withdraw these comments unconditionally or provide evidence.”

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A 23-year-old man hailing from Bengaluru has been convicted by a special NIA court in Himachal Pradesh for being a member of terror group ISIS and indulging in unlawful activities, the probe agency said today.The Shimla court held Abid Khan guilty under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment will be made on July 21, an NIA official said.The agency said Khan was found to be a member of a newly- formed organisation called ‘Junood-Ul-Khilafa-Fil-Hind’ which was working to further the ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).The ISIS is an international proscribed Jihadi organisation with a motive to establish caliphate by indulging in terrorist activities across various countries of the world including India, the NIA said.The National Investigation Agency took over the case from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) police in January and later filed a charge sheet against Khan.It said Khan, a resident of Bengaluru, was found “closely associated” with four other people suspected to be associated with the ISIS, whom the NIA had arrested during its probe.”He (Khan) got converted to Christianity after the arrest of the four accused persons by the NIA in January last year to evade arrest.”After obtaining passport in March, 2016 he went to Sri Lanka for about a month. Thereafter, Khan took shelter in a Church at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh,” the NIA said.During this period, it said, Khan remained in contact with his handlers through various social media platforms.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>In a development that might point towards an organised ISIS recruitment cartel being operated from India, the Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested a Kerala resident, who was attempting to go to Syria for terror-related activities on the basis of forged documents, and another man for helping him.Identified as Shahjahan Velluva Kandy, 32, a resident of Kannur in Kerala, the suspected ISIS operative has been deported from Turkey to India twice before. He was nabbed by the Special Cell sleuths after the US intelligence agency CIA tipped them off about his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) last week.”Kandy had been travelling on a forged passport in the name of Mohamed Ismail Mohideen. He was arrested by the Turkish authorities and deported to India in February, after which he got another passport and tried to go to Syria. After receiving information about his arrival, we intercepted him in Delhi. He had come with another person identified as Abdul Razak Kunhil Pocker, who is also being questioned,” a senior police officer said.According to the police, Kandy has revealed his links with some of the terrorists of ISIS, arrested in Kerala in October, 2016. He also disclosed the identity of the man who helped him get the fake passport to travel to Syria. A police team then raided the identified premises in Kerala and arrested his aide, whose name hasn’t been disclosed yet.Police suspect the two to be linked to a larger syndicate involved in radicalising Indians. “He has been arrested and is being questioned for further links. Data on his mobile phone is being scruitinised and a probe through technical surveillance is being carried,” an officer said.Terror trailJuly, 2016: 21 self-radicalised people from Kerala go missing and are suspected to have joined ISIS. They are found to be in Afghanistan.Oct, 2016: Subahani Moideen flees Kerala in April and goes to Mosul to fight for ISIS. Jan, 2017: NIA arrests Abdul Rashid Abdulla Yasmin for motivating 14 youths to join ISIS.Feb, 2017: Moinudiheen Parakadavath, a member of ISIS-inspired group Omar Al-Hind, deported from Abu Dhabi and arrested by NIA for radicalising youths in Kerala through social media.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India said today Iraqi authorities have assured it of all cooperation in locating 39 Indian nationals reportedly in captivity in Mosul after Iraq declared victory against the IS group there. “Liberation of Mosul from ISIS is an important milestone in the global war on terror, and India welcomes it… As soon as the announcement of liberation of Mosul was made by the Prime Minister of Iraq, the government activated various channels for locating those Indians,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said. He said Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh is travelling to Erbil. The Ambassador of India to Iraq and the Consul General in Erbil have been instructed to continue the efforts to locate the Indian nationals on priority, he added. “Iraqi authorities have conveyed that all cooperation would be extended in this regard and instructions have been issued by them to all relevant Iraqi agencies for the same,” the spokesperson said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier assured Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that her ministry was making all-out efforts to trace the 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab and have been reportedly held hostage in the Iraqi city of Mosul since 2014. Amarinder had called up Swaraj to seek her intervention, saying that the families of the hostages were keenly awaiting the return of their kin following ISIS’ defeat and needed the central government’s support in bringing them back. Swaraj also told him that V K Singh will coordinate with the Iraqi government and facilitate the return of the Indians stuck there, according to a spokesperson of Amarinder’s office.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu today discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and underlined the need for the establishment of a just and durable peace in the region that has been marred by years of conflict. “We also discussed the situation in West Asia and wider region. It is India’s hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail,” Prime Minister Modi said after holding wide- ranging talks with his Israeli counterpart on the second day of his landmark visit. Later, a joint statement issued by the two sides said the two Prime Ministers discussed the developments pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. “They underlined the need for the establishment of a just and durable peace in the region,” it said. The two leaders “reaffirmed their support for an early negotiated solution between the sides based on mutual recognition and security arrangements,” it added. Ahead of his visit, Modi, who is the first Indian prime minister to visit the Jewish state, had said that India believes in a two-state solution in which both Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist peacefully. India supports all efforts to find an acceptable solution to all the pending issues, including Jerusalem, he had said. “A final-status agreement should respect the sentiments and address demands of all affected parties,” Modi had said. The two-state solution envisions independent Israeli and Palestinian states coexisting side by side peacefully. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as their future capital. During his historic three-day visit, Modi did not travel to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, to meet with Palestinian leaders, as is common for visiting foreign dignitaries. The move is seen as a significant departure from the past when Indian leaders always visited Palestinian territories while visiting Israel. Modi, however, had met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in New Delhi in May. India for the first time has de-linked its relationship with Israel from its traditional support to Palestine. It hopes to leverage its relationship with Israel to attract more investment, and gain from Israeli cutting-edge technology and defence. The West Asian region has been marred by conflict between Israel and Palestine and battle against the ISIS terror group, civil wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen. Millions of people have fled their homes in Iraq and Syria due to conflict.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu today hoped that peace, dialogue and restraint will bring about stability in West Asia that has been marred by years of conflict. India and Israel live in complex geographies and are aware of strategic threats to regional peace and stability, Prime Minister Modi said after holding wide-ranging talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of his landmark visit, the first by an Indian premier. “India has suffered firsthand the violence and hatred spread by terror. So has Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests and also cooperate to combat growing radicalisation and terrorism in West Asia,” he said. “We also discussed the situation in West Asia and wider region. It is India’s hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail,” the prime minister said. Later, a joint statement said the two leaders recognised that terrorism poses a grave threat to global peace and stability and reiterated their strong commitment to combat it in all its forms and manifestations. Voicing their common concern over the growing menace of terrorism and radicalism, India and Israel agreed to cooperate to protect their strategic interests and called for strong measures against terror groups and their sponsors. During this three-day visit, Modi did not travel to Palestine, in a significant departure from the past when Indian leaders always visited Palestinian territories while visiting Israel. India for the first time has de-linked its relationship with Israel from its traditional support to Palestine. But, India now hopes to leverage its relationship with Israel to attract more investment, and gain from Israeli cutting-edge technology and defence. The West Asian region has been marred by conflict between Israel and Palestine and battle against the ISIS terror group, civil wars in Syria and Yemen. Millions of people have fled their homes in Iraq and Syria due to war.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Rajasthan Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested a person from Chennai over alleged ISIS links.The ATS team arrested the suspect for allegedly transferring funds to an ISIS module.The suspect, identified as Haroon, has been taken to Jaipur for further inquiry.The team arrested him after other suspects, (Jamil Ahmed and Mohammad Iqbal) who are already in ATS custody, identified him.Ahmed was arrested by the ATS team in November last year from Sikar district of Rajasthan for allegedly transferring funds to the ISIS module.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>An ISIS sympathiser, who allegedly wanted to carry out subversive activities in the country, was today arrested here by the city police. According to the police, Konakalla Subramanyam alias Omer (22) was in touch with other ISIS sympathisers through social media. “On receipt of credible information, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) apprehended Omer and found in his possession one mobile phone, which contained incriminating conversation with ISIS sympathisers,” a release issued by Hyderabad Police said. Based on a complaint filed by SIT Inspector K Syamala Rao, Omer was booked on charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy and under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, it said. His interrogation revealed he had embraced Islam in 2014. Later, he visited Gujarat and trained in religious rituals and scriptures. He also visited Srinagar and other places in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, the police said. He allegedly chatted with ISIS sympathisers through Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and was in regular touch with Abu Qahafa Al-Hindi, a Mumbai-based ISIS sympathiser. “Omer wanted to carry out subversive activities in the country at the instigation of Abu Qahafa Al-Hindi. The accused is being remanded in judicial custody,” the police added.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The US Treasury Department on Thursday declared Indian fugitive Shafi Armar alias Yusuf al-Hindi, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, as a global terrorist. Armar, a recruiter and motivator for the Islamic State in Syria, is one of the four individuals who were specially designated by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.”The Treasury Department designates those who make it possible to move funds in and out of ISIS-controlled territory as one way to disrupt ISIS’ financing networks,” said OFAC Director John E Smith.He added, “We are committed to shining a bright light on anyone who would attempt to provide terrorist access to the international financial system.” Smith also said, “These actions are part of a continued effort to target individuals and entities that willfully provide support to ISIS in order to constrict this violent terror group’s operational reach and shut off its access points to the international financial system.”In July 2016, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged Armar and former Indian Mujaheedin (IM) member as the main recruiter and motivator to set up Indian modules inspired by the Islamic State group (ISIS). This was the first time the NIA was able to ascertain the identity of Yusuf al-Hindi, who until now remained a shadowy figure behind his alias.The NIA first came across Armar’s name in 2014 during the investigation of IS inspired suspects in Ratlam. His role in motivating and radicalising the Muslim youth in India cropped up during the interrogation of more than 30 alleged inspired operatives of the IS group arrested from across the country since last year. Investigators were, however, not able to put a face to the name, as the handler was active only online and any real details remained sketchy.Armar and his elder brother Sultan, who were former IM operatives, fled to Pakistan after the group’s leadership was dismantled in 2008-09. When the conflict in Syria erupted, a part of IM split, with few members remaining loyal to al Qaeda and others supporting the IS. The later members traveled to Afghanistan, and formed the Ansar ut Tawheed Bilad e Hind, that pledged its allegiance to the IS. Some of the members of AuT prominently featured in propaganda video on Indian IS fighters released recently. Sultan Armar was announced to be dead while fighting for the IS in 2014Reports also claimed that Shafi was killed in a US drone strike in March this year, there was no confirmation on the same by Indian authorities.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India has the largest Muslim population in the world but ISIS had been unable to establish itself in the country, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here today. Singh was giving a report card of his ministry on the completion of three years of the Narendra Modi government. “We have strived to provide security for the nation, with full responsibility,” he said at a press conference. He said 90 ISIS sympathisers had been arrested across the country. Singh said ISIS and Ansar Ul Ammah have been included in the list of terrorist organisations. According to the minister, there had been a 25 per cent reduction in Naxal attacks in 2014-17 as compared to 2011-14 (UPA tenure). He also said three years of NDA government had seen a 42 per cent reduction in deaths in Naxal attacks as compared to last three years of the UPA. Singh said there was 45 per cent reduction in infiltration from Pakistan in the six months post-surgical strike at the Line of Control in September last year as compared to the corresponding period previous year. The minister said the government would put an end to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A 21-year-old Kashmiri man, who was allegedly trying to join the terror group ISIS, has been deported from Turkey to India after being picked up by Turkish authorities, official sources here said today. Srinagar resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from the Turkish capital of Ankara on May 25 and whisked away to an undisclosed destination by security agencies in Delhi, the sources said. He was being assessed by various security agencies, they said. Parvaiz had left home after an argument with his father, who wanted him to join a college while the son was interested in religious studies, the sources said. They said he booked himself a seat on a flight to Teheran on March 23. He was scheduled to return to Delhi on April 9 after exploring avenues for religious studies in Europe, they said. The Kashmiri man, who is the second person to be deported from Turkey in the last two months, apparently sent a message to his family to tell them that he was facing some “problems”, the sources said. When the police and other agencies in Kashmir were informed about this, a probe was launched to locate him, they said. According to the sources, the security agencies then got in touch with their Iranian counterparts, who found out that Parvaiz was travelling to Ankara. The authorities in Ankara were contacted and he was picked up while he was travelling in a bus in the Turkish capital, they said. He was sent to India on May 25 by a Turkish Airlines flight, the sources said. In March, Mohammed Taha, a resident of Srinagar, was deported from Turkey and sent to India. He has been put in preventive custody, they said. Security agencies in India have viewed their alleged plans to join the ISIS with concern. They believe that some Kashmiri youths are getting radicalised by ‘jihadi’ propaganda material shared by the ISIS on the Internet. The agencies feel that if the growing influence of the ISIS is not checked, it can be detrimental to the situation in the Valley. Recently, an audio clip had surfaced on social media sites in which Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant commander Zakir Moosa could be heard talking about establishing an Islamic caliphate in the Valley. The police had carried out an analysis of the clip, comparing the voice with that of Moosa’s in earlier videos and audios. The 5.40-minute audio warned Kashmir’s separatist leaders against interfering in the HM’s plan to establish a caliphate as the ISIS has done in parts of Syria and Iraq. The call for a caliphate is being seen as a worrying twist to militancy in Kashmir, which has largely revolved around a demand for independence or secession to Pakistan, without an overtly religious subtext. During the recent protests in the Valley, ISIS flags were waved in certain areas, and slogans supporting the terror group were painted on walls. However, Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Sallahuddin had said there was no place for groups such as the ISIS, Al-Qaeda or the Taliban in Jammu and Kashmir.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A Delhi University Students’ Union member today filed a police complaint alleging someone had written “pro-ISIS” slogans on the walls of north campus, police said. “We have received a complaint and we are examining it,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Jatin Narwal said. Ankit Sangwan, DUSU secretary and a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), filed the complaint with the police after he was told by some students that the slogans were written on the walls of the Delhi School of Economics. In his complaint filed at the Maurice Nagar police station, he said that he saw “I am SYN ISIS” written on the wall. This slogan means an organisation like ISIS should be supported, Sangwan said in his complaint. He also claimed that other slogans like ‘Justice for Naxals’, ‘AFSPA’, ‘Azadi’, ‘LGBTQ’ were also written on the walls of the Department of Social Work. Sangwan demanded action against those who wrote such slogans.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India and Sweden today stressed on strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and anti- radicalisation actions besides a host of other issues. These issues were discussed when Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde held delegation-level talks with Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju here. During the meeting, both ministers discussed various issues of importance to the two countries including the threat of ISIS and radicalisation and steps being taken for counter- terrorism. Both sides appreciated the ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security and anti-radicalism being pursued by the two countries and emphasised the need for close collaboration both at bilateral and multilateral levels to counter this very serious threat especially against pluralist democracies like India and Sweden. Linde observed that terrorism and threat of ISIS is a big issue for Europe and urgent steps are being taken to check the same, an official statement said. Rijiju apprised the Swedish minister that even though threat of ISIS is there in India but various steps have been taken to keep the same under constant check and most importantly steps have been taken for de-radicalisation and counter-radicalisation. Linde shared Swedish perceptions about Brexit and challenges of influx of refugees faced by her country. While she reiterated the commitment on economic cooperation, the Swedish side offered transfer of technology and capacity building so as to make India a hub for global supply chain. Sweden also showed interest for supply of equipment and items for modernisation of the central armed police forces. Ambassador of Sweden to India Harald Sandberg and senior officers of the ministry of home affairs were also present during the meeting.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Hyderabad police today summoned three men for questioning after a TV channel aired their interview allegedly showing their continuing links with the terrorist organisation ISIS. “Following the TV interview, we called them this evening… questioning is underway,” deputy commissioner of police Avinash Mohanty said. The three men include alleged ISIS sympathisers Salman Mohiuddin, a US-returned engineer, and Abdullah Basith. Basith was among the three men who were arrested from Nagpur in December 2015 when they were allegedly on their way to join the ISIS. Mohiuddin was arrested in Hyderabad in 2015 when he was preparing to board a flight to Dubai, allegedly on the way to Syria to join ISIS. The third person being questioned had been earlier arrested by the Hyderabad police for alleged ISIS sympathies, and ‘de-radicalised’.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India can play “a very important role” in resolving the dispute between Palestine and Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday, on the eve of his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Abbas, who is being hosted by India ahead of Modi’s first ever visit to Israel, said New Delhi’s role will have significance as it has good relations with both the countries.”There should be a role for India in making peace in our region. India has played this role (by supporting the Palestinian cause) and we are looking forward that India continues to play the same role,” he said while delivering a lecture here. “We know very well that India has good relations with Israel and Palestine. So India can play a very important role in bringing peace (between Israel and Palestine),” he said.He said he will ask Modi tomorrow to use India’s “good offices” in bringing in peace between Israel and Palestine. Palestine is against any kind of military intervention to resolve the dispute, said Abbas who will also be meeting his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.Abbas’ comments assume significance as Modi is slated to visit Israel in a couple of months, which will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister. India has been a vociferous supporter of the Palestinian cause.The Palestinian president said during his meeting with Modi and Mukherjee, he will also apprise them of the ongoing political developments in Palestine and the Middle East. Condemning terrorism by ISIS, Abbas said ending the “Israeli occupation” will greatly help in countering terrorism in the region. “So, achieving this justice is the basis for success in fighting terrorism being practised by terrorist groups such as ISIS in the region. We condemn all their barbaric activities,” he said.The Middle East region, Abbas said, is living in a state of instability and conflict, especially after the Arab Spring, which is “castastrophic” for the region and its people. “It has inflicted severest damage to the stability and integrity of the social fabric,” he held.Abbas also pitched for an agreement with India on religious tourism as Palestine has several religious shrines. The Palestinian president is on a four day visit to India from May 14 to 17.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Hizbul Mujahideen, a terror outfit which has been fighting for Jammu and Kashmir’s annexation to Pakistan since 1989, today seemed to be heading towards a vertical split with its valley-based commander Zakir Moosa dissociating himself from the outfit. A fresh audio tape purportedly carrying his voice appeared in the social media in which the engineering-student- turned militant, Moosa, said that he was not representing Hizbul Mujahideen anymore. “Hizbul Mujahideen has said that we have nothing to do with the statement of Moosa. So, if Hizbul Mujahideen doesn’t represent me then I also don’t represent them. From today onwards, I have no association with Hizbul Mujahideen,” Moosa said hours after Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based spokesman of the outfit had distanced the group from Moosa’s statement yesterday in which he had threatened Kashmiri separatist leaders with dire consequences if they did not refrain from using the Kashmir issue for political gains. Moosa was made commander of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen after the death of the outfit’s poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 last year. “I stand by my speech and by my message. It doesn’t bother me what others say but I stand by my speech. I have not said anything against Syed Ali Shah Geelani but my statement was only against those individuals who talk about freedom (of Kashmir) for a secular state,” he said. He also made attempts to clarify that he had no association with the ISIS or the al-Qaeda terror groups. However, he said he believed in fighting for Islam and not for a secular state. This is the second time when cracks have appeared in the Hizbul Mujahideen with valley-based commanders and its chief Syed Salahuddin based in PoK not being on the same page. Earlier in 2002, its valley-based commander Abdul Majeed Dar had refused to take orders from Salahuddin. He was later killed by Hizbul Mujahideen. Responding to Moosa’s threats to the separatist leaders, Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Saleem Hashmi had said in a statement from Muzaffarabad in PoK that “the outfit has neither got anything to do with the statement of Moosa nor the statement is acceptable to it.” Terming Moosa’s remarks in an audio slideshow that surfaced in Kashmir’s social media as his “personal opinion”, Hashmi cautioned that any statement or step which will create confusion “can prove a death knell for our struggle”. In a 5.40-minute audio, Moosa had warned the separatist leaders not to meddle in their aim to establish a caliphate in Jammu and Kashmir along the lines of the rule established by the ISIS in parts of Syria and Iraq. Hizbul Mujahideen is almost as old as the Kashmiri militancy which started in 1989. The group is made up almost entirely of local youths, and had always campaigned for joining Pakistan. The clip surfaced after Hurriyat leaders recently sought to downplay the growing influence of ISIS ideology in the Kashmir Valley. Earlier this week, Hurriyat leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yaseen Malik issued a joint statement in which they claimed that the Kashmir struggle has nothing to do with the ISIS, the al-Qaeda and other such organisations.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Zakir Rashid Bhat, alias Zakir Musa, the successor of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has threatened to behead separatist leaders and Ulema (Islamic scholars) who create hurdles in the terror outfit’s path of enforcing Sharia in Kashmir.Musa released a 5:40 minute audio clip lashing out at Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) for calling the Kashmir struggle “political and not Islamic”. JRL is an amalgam of Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, who spearheaded unrest in the valley in 2016.”They are political leaders. Please do not refer to them as Islamic leaders. Do not create hurdles in our path of enforcing Sharia Law. We will otherwise slit their throats and hang them at Lal Chowk. I warn you again, if you come in our way. We will hang you first then others,” said Musa.Hailing from Noorpora in Tral, Musa dropped out of a civil engineering course at a Chandigarh college and joined Hizbul in 2013. Growing up in an affluent family, Musa’s father is also an engineer by profession.”We are fighting for the implementation of Sharia and supremacy of Islam. We will not rest until we enforce Sharia in Kashmir. If you come in our way, we will not spare you,” he warned.Musa also purportedly spoke about establishing an Islamic caliphate in Kashmir. The clip also warns separatist leaders of Kashmir not to meddle in the move to set up a caliphate in Jammu and Kashmir along the lines of the rule established by the ISIS in parts of Syria and Iraq.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> A ship load of tramadol, a synthetic opioid-like drug, from India to be sold to Islamic State terrorists in Libya to give them greater resilience has been seized by the Italian police, according to media reports today.The 37 million tramadol pills, worth $75 million, were found packed into three containers at the port of Genoa, labelled as blankets and shampoo and set to be loaded on a freighter bound for Misrata and Tobruk in Libya, The Times reported.”ISIS is making a fortune from this traffic, giving it to its fighters to make them feel no pain,” the British newspaper quoted an Italian investigator as saying.Tramadol is a synthetic opioid-like drug used as a painkiller.Italian police said the consignment had come from India and would have been used for two purposes: to help finance Islamist terrorism and for use by jihadist fighters as a stimulant and to heighten resistance to physical stress, the BBC reported.
ALSO READ 9,900 Yazidis killed or kidnapped in ISIS genocide, says studyBoko Haram, the Nigerian terror group, is said to feed child soldiers dates stuffed with tramadol before sending them on missions.ISIS is already known for feeding its fighters Captagon, an amphetamine that blocks hunger, fear and fatigue.Italian investigators traced the tramadol shipment to an Indian pharmaceuticals company, which allegedly sold the pills for USD 250,000 to a Dubai-based importer, which then shipped them from India to Sri Lanka where they disappeared from the freighter’s documents, the report said.The tramadol pills would sell for two dollars each in Libya, said the investigator.Last year police at the Greek port of Piraeus found a container carrying 26 million tramadol tablets, originally from India and allegedly destined for a Libyan company with ties to ISIS, the report said.

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>BJP today strongly condemned the barbaric murder of a young Army officer by militants today . “We strongly condemn the heinous and barbaric act committed by the terrorists last night in Shopian, where a young Indian Army officer attending a wedding in his village during leave was kidnapped by the terrorists and brutally murdered”, Brig Anil Gupta, State Spokesperson of BJP, said. He said that this barbaric act is the manifestation of an extremist ideology on the Kashmiris by Pak-sponsored terrorists. “Killing of a fellow Kashmiri Sunni Muslim is against all tenets of Islam,” said Brig Gupta. The world has already witnessed the barbarism of the ISIS cadre in Syria, Iraq and in Kurdish territories, he said. Instead of succumbing to the diktats of jihadi terrorists, they need to fight them, he said. The time has come for the majority peace loving Kashmiris to unite and rise against the menace of terrorism, said Gupta.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Telangana government today said it would take action against AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh if he failed to apologise to the state police over his allegation that the police has set up a “bogus” ISIS website to radicalise Muslim youth. “Congress is not (in power) in the state or Centre. They do not have any chance to come to power. So, they are trying to make some false charges on our police,” state Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy said. “Whoever makes (allegations), he (Singh) has to apologise to our police. Otherwise, I warn that the state government will take action as per law,” he added. Singh, in-charge of the Congress affairs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, recently kicked up a row with his comments on the Telangana police, drawing sharp reactions from the ruling TRS and Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma. In a post on his Twitter page on May 1, Singh had said, “Telangana police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim youths and encouraging them to become ISIS modules.” Based on a complaint lodged by TRS MLA M Gopinath, who represents Jubilee Hills constituency, the Hyderabad police had registered a criminal case on May 4 against Singh under relevant IPC sections. In his complaint, Gopinath had accused Singh of defaming the police through his comments. Singh was booked under IPC sections 505 (1), (1)(b) and 505 (2) for making the alleged statements, intended to cause or likely to cause public fears or alarms and inducing people to commit an offence against the state or public tranquillity or to create or promote ill-will between the two classes of people, police had said.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Former Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah today highlighted the rise of “religious radicalism” in the country and said dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, who was killed by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan, was targeted because he was a Muslim. Speaking at a symposium on ‘Religious Persecution of Baha’is in Iran and Belief in the Interfaith Co-existence’, Habibullah said that by allowing atrocities on Baha’is, leaders in Iran are giving Islam a bad name. “We now have this rise of religious radicalism. Iran itself fighting against the rise of ISIS. “In our own country we have this instance of Pehlu Khan…simply because he was a Muslim. This is the time for all of those who are right thinking and religious minded for standing together,” Habibullah said. The former CIC was referring to 55-year-old Pehlu Khan who was waylaid by a mob in Alwar on April 1 when he was transporting cows for his small dairy farm. He was beaten up mercilessly by cow vigilantes and died of his wounds two days later. The symposium is conducted every year to create awareness over the arrest of seven Bahai leaders — Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm Mahvash Sabet — by Iran. Former Chief Election Commissioner GVG Krishnamurthy also attended the event.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India has asked the United Kingdom (UK) to ensure early extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya who is facing cases of bank loan default to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi raised the issue of early completion of the extradition process of Mallya, during his talks here with his UK counterpart Patsy Wilkinson, the second permanent secretary in the the British Home Office.The issue of presence of certain Sikh militant elements in the UK, sharing of intelligence inputs on a real-time basis particularly with regard to the ISIS – both from ISIS-held territories, and modules being busted in the UK and Europe, were discussed at the two-hour-long meeting, official sources said.Counter-terror cooperation between India and Britain besides a host of other issues figured in the parleys.Matters relating to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, strengthening of the intelligence-sharing mechanism and visa- related issues were also deliberated upon, the sources said.61-year-old Mallya, who has been living in Britain since last year, was arrested by Scotland Yard last month on India’s extradition request.Within hours of his arrest, Mallya, who is accused of cheating and fraud, was released on bail by a London court.The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will argue the case on behalf of the Indian authorities when it comes before the court.Mallya, whose now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines allegedly owes more than Rs 9,000 crore to various banks, had fled India on March 2, 2016.India and the UK have an extradition treaty, signed in 1992, but so far only one extradition has taken place under the arrangement – that of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India last October to face trial for his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.However, unlike Mallya, Patel had submitted to the extradition order without legal challenge. India had given a formal extradition request for Mallya as per the extradition treaty between India and the UK through a note verbale, a diplomatic communication, on February 8.The Union home secretary lauded the UK’s effort to extradite Mallya and conveyed that New Delhi will help London to pursue the case in the UK court.The sources said India told the UK delegation that if one-on-one contact can be established between the prosecuting agency in India and the Crown Prosecution or Department of Prosecution, then it would be faster and easier to put up evidence before the judge concerned.India will inform the UK about the proceedings or hearings happening in the cases of wanted criminals by the UK in India and wants the UK to reciprocate in similar cases.Both sides agreed that India and the UK will sign an MoU in July on reworking the agreement on security cooperation.India also offered to drop cases registered against one Bangladeshi national, who is lodged in Assam, so that he can be extradited to the UK.In return, sources said, India expects reciprocity that if people wanted by New Delhi are mired in any British case, those should be dropped and extradition facilitated.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today asked Congress leader Digvijaya Singh to provide evidence over his allegation that the Telangana Police was encouraging Muslim youths to join the terror outfit of Islamic State. He said the Telangana Police “pro-actively share” information on anti-terror operations with other states and such “baseless charges demoralise” the forces. “Shocked by allegations of Sh Digvijay Singh on #Telangana police encouraging Muslims to join ISIS. He should present evidence or apologise,” Naidu said in a tweet. The Information and Broadcasting Minister was responding to Singh’s accusation that Telangana Police was radicalising Muslim youths and encouraging them to join the Islamic State (IS) by setting up a “bogus” website of the terror group. Singh earlier claimed that the state police had set up the website to trap Muslims youths and that it was “radicalising and encouraging them to become ISIS modules”. The senior Congress leader had also asked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao whether he had authorised the state police “to trap Muslim youths and encourage them to join the IS”. “If he has then shouldn’t he own the responsibility and resign? If he hasn’t then shouldn’t he enquire and punish those who are responsible for committing such a heinous crime (sic),” Singh said in a tweet.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday arrived in New Delhi to kickstart his two-day visit. This will be his first visit to India as the Turkish President. He had won a referendum on April 16 which gave him more executive powers as the President. He will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Monday. Economic ties, cooperation in the fight against terrorism and talk on Turkey?s support to India in its bid to become a member in the coveted Nuclear Supplier?s Group are expected to dominate the bilateral talks. After a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday, President Erdogan will also lay wreath at the Rajghat, MEA sources said here . His official engagements also include a call on by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. He will also attend a Business Event and interact with industry captains. During his stay, there will be also a conferment of the Honorary Degree on President Erdogan by the Jamia Milia Islamia University. Erdogan had visited India in 2008, when he was the prime minister. After eleven years as the Prime Minister, he was elected President in 2014. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has directed security agencies to ensure that he be provided the highest security cover in the wake of threats from the ISIS. The IB has even demanded that his aircraft be guarded at all times during his stay in the capital. A special request to allow officers deployed for his personal security to carry weapons has also been placed.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> A resident of Kerala?s Palghat, who was suspected to have joined Al Qaeda, was killed in Syria in an attack by the U.S. Abu Tahir, who went for Umrah in 2013 did not come back and was suspected to have join Al Qaeda. Tahir?s relative, who lives in Sharja received the message that he was killed on April 4. Earlier a Kerala youth, who was later found to have joined the ISIS, was killed in the mega airstrike conducted by the United States in the Achin district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. The U.S. military had dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb to target the Islamic State tunnels and personnel. Earlier in February, another youth from the same group was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan. At least four out of the 21 individuals, who belong to Christian and Hindu families, had converted to Islam over a year ago, reports state. Two of the individuals had reportedly sent text and voice messages to their families confirming that they have moved to a remote location. Earlier, the NIA had arrested two people in connection with the criminal conspiracy hatched within and outside India, with the intention of furthering the objectives of the Islamic State(IS) and for joining and supporting the organization. The investigation revealed that the conspiracy had been in operation since the month of July, 2015.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Surendranagar-based `researcher’ Dr Mukesh Shukla, who claimed last week that he was attacked with a chemical spray and received a threat from ISIS, had concocted the whole story for publicity, police said today. A joint investigation by Surendranagar police and Cyber Crime Cell of Ahmedabad Crime Branch found that Shukla, who is in his 60s, himself prepared the `threat letter’ written in Arabic, and later staged the `chemical attack’, said Surendranagar Superintendent of Police Dipak Meghani. On April 21, Shukla, who claims to have conducted research on AIDS, lodged an FIR stating that three men attacked him with a chemical spray near his house. They also looted Rs 24,000 and a pen drive which had crucial data related to his HIV-AIDS research, he said. Shukla was in news a few years ago when he claimed that he had developed `bio-active drugs’ for treatment of AIDS, malaria, jaundice and heart diseases using plant extracts, and had been granted a patent in the US. “A month prior to the attack he had approached us with a threat letter written in Arabic, and claimed that ISIS had threatened to kill him if he did not hand over his AIDS treatment formula,” the SP said. The police however found after examining Shukla’s computer that he had drafted the threat letter himself using the Google translator service. “The chemical sprayed on him was similar to pepper spray used by women for self-defence. Shukla had bought two spray bottles from a mall in Ahmedabad on March 3 and later cooked up the story of attack,” said Meghani. When police confronted Shukla with these findings, he confessed that he made up the whole story out of frustration as the people hadn’t taken notice of his efforts of 28 years to find cure for diseases like AIDS and malaria. He also wanted to gain sympathy of some people from whom he had borrowed huge amounts of money, the SP said. Asked if police would take any action against him for the false complaint, the SP said they would only file a report about the FIR being baseless in the court, as per the procedure.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Describing terrorism as a “sophisticated weapon” from which no country is immune, Cyprus today advocated close cooperation between India and the European Union for tackling the root cause of this global menace. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who is on a five- day visit to India, said the “long-standing” ties between India and Cyprus is “reciprocal and of mutually beneficial”. “Tomorrow agreements will be signed in the areas of merchant shipping, agriculture, aviation, education and culture to widen our cooperation,” he said. “The major challenges in the area of security that Europe faces is the same which India does. Whether it is London, Stockholm, St Petersburg or Mumbai, all face the threat today. Terrorism is a sophisticated weapon from which no country is immune,” the president said. In his keynote address at the ‘India Trilateral Forum 12′ here, he asserted that security and economic sectors were two areas in which the two countries can work in a more focused manner to do a “great deal in our strategic partnership”. “In Mumbai, I paid my respect to the victims of the 2008 terror attack. And, I say, the threat of terrorism calls for strengthening ties. Cyprus stands with India and is a supporter for the comprehensive convention against terrorism. “We need a united response against terrorism. So we participated in the Global Coalition To Counter ISIS. We also provided ways and means to counter terror organisations by giving military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and actively exchanging information and intelligence with partners,” he said. Anastasiades said this at the event co-hosted by think- tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF), German Marshal Fund of the US and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden. “India’s engagement with its neighbours and its valuable contribution to regional peace and stability signifies its crucial role in the region and by extension, the world. “In places like Afghanistan, India and the EU can forge closer cooperation for the benefit of the people and for peace and stability in the region. Where possible, India and the EU must join forces to tackle the root causes of terrorism,” he said. Anastasiades said terrorism and political instability go hand in hand and lie at the heart of challenges that both the EU and India face. “In our region, in Syria, Iraq and Libya political instability has allowed radical organisations such as the ISIS to fill in the vacuum in absence of political leadership. The result has been chaos and an unprecedented flow of migration,” he said, adding India faces significant migration from Afghanistan and has been affected by terrorism. “The EU-India Joint Declaration on the fight against terrorism is an important step in fighting the menace,” he said. On Cyprus’ internal issues, the President said India has been a “long-standing, reliable ally in our efforts to reunify Cyprus and its people through a comprehensive settlement, in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, in line with UN Security Council Resolutions and EU law”. “Cyprus’s struggle continues today in a different form, and India continues to stand firmly and unequivocally by the Government of Cyprus in its efforts to safeguard the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus following the 1974 illegal invasion and subsequent occupation by Turkey,” he said. “While we remain firmly committed to the ongoing negotiating effort, we look to friends and allies such as India to convey the message to Turkey that the status quo is unacceptable, and that it needs to engage constructively, and actively in the efforts underway,” the Cypriot president said. Anastasiades emphasised both the countries could engage strongly in the economic sector also. “Cyprus is proud to be a special envoy of India within the EU, a bridge – if you like – between India and the EU. “Cyprus’s position is that it is high time to work towards advancing the EU-India negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement, which will open new avenues of cooperation in the economic sector. I believe that there is now a new momentum in this regard and we must ensure that the process moves forward he said. “A Free Trade Agreement, besides the obvious trade and economic benefits that would accrue, will provide the space for EU Member States to maximise their bilateral engagement with India, in all possible sectors of economic activity,” Anastasiades added. Make in India, Clean India, Digital India, Smart Cities, and other significant initiatives, like the International Solar Alliance, these Indian initiatives are significantly reinforced when India and the EU Member States work closely, he asserted. The president said Cyprus is eager to be part of this new and dynamic EU-India partnership and to contribute actively for mutual interest, particularly in areas where Cyprus has expertise, including energy, renewable energy, hydrocarbons, shipping, education and tourism. “Cyprus very much looks forward to the next EU-India Summit, which will take place in New Delhi in October,” he said, adding, the EU-India trade volumes are “solid and convincing proof that India-EU relationship has grown beyond its infancy and it must be taken to full maturity”. Anastasiades also invoked Mahatma Gandhi in his speech, saying, he is an inspiration to the world and the Cyprus with whom he maintained a strong personal relationship. Earlier, briefing reporters on his visit, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the Cypriot President will meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow. He will also present Mukherjee with Grand Collar of Order of Makarios III, the highest ranked order of Cyprus to foreign heads of state and governments. He will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow and hold a delegation-level talks, apart from meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. “We understand that the two sides in Cyprus have been talking to each other. India hopes that a just and lasting solution will be found to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the European Acquis. We support a peaceful dialogue between the parties concerned,” she said, when asked about the situation in Cyprus. On the mediation prospect, she said, “Two leaders (our PM and the President of Cyprus) will meet and discuss issues that they decide upon. I would not like to prejudge or speculate. However our position on the Cyprus issue is very clear and well known. I don’t need to reiterate it.” “India and Cyprus share time-tested ties. On many global issues, both countries share similar views. India has extended unwavering support to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, of Cyprus. “Cyprus supports India’s views on crucial issues such as the UN Security Council reforms and the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” Ghanashyam said.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>India today called for united global action in strongly resisting “opportunistic” efforts of some states to support terrorist groups by facilitating training, funding and providing safe havens to them. Addressing an international security conference here, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said terrorism is being “reinvented” in newer and even more dangerous manifestations and that the challenge must be dealt with effectively. Without naming any country, he said terrorism will recoil on those who nurture it, adding distinctions are still sought to be made between good and bad terrorists, despite all the evidence and experience to the contrary. The sixth Moscow conference on international security is attended by defence ministers of a large number of countries. “We should also resolutely resist opportunistic efforts by some states to support terrorist proxies by training, funding or providing safe havens to such groups for their limited objectives,” he said. On the positive side, he said, the territory acquired by ISIS in the Middle East has begun to be effectively challenged by several countries. “It is reassuring and should be taken to its logical conclusion. Cooperation between major powers in this effort can become a template for similar steps elsewhere,” he said. At the same time, he said even work is on to eliminate the breeding grounds of terrorism in the Middle East, the dangers of such elements returning to their home countries has become a major challenge. “We need to encourage closer information exchanges and intelligence cooperation to address this threat,” he said. The defence minister said the scourge of terrorism remains the primary security challenge for all peaceful countries, asserting India will steadfastly partner all friendly countries confronted with the challenge of terrorism. “We have successfully addressed this threat for over three decades. We will continue to strengthen ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism with our partners,” he said.(This article has not been edited by DNA’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)